Door seal construction



July 15 1952 A. l.. HIGBIE 2,603,528

nooR SEAL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25, 1948 INVENTOR.

' f van A /e/f Le. BY f Patented July 15, ,1952

'UNITED- 'STATES OFFICE-1.31.71@

:moansk DOOR SEAL CONSTRUCTION Alan v2L. Higbie-Wal1ed YLakreMich., assignor xto `Chrysler Corporation, Highlandlark, Mich., a

corporation o f Delaware y t n l. l Application-May 25, 194s,-s'eria1lN`o:29,097 Y Y 4.o1aims. (oi."12,96`-44) This invention relates to closure seals and has particular reference to motor vehicle` door constructions wherein Ia unitary Acombination door seal andv drip molding assembly is mounted within the doorv jamb recess. The combination door seal and drip molding assemblies herein disclosed are designed vso that they provide an eicient, durable seal that effectively cushions the closing of 'the `door and eliminates the possibility of rattles between the door and its surrounding frameworlnzinsure a substantially airtight seal along the joint'between the body andthe door,` prevent drainage-of moisture into the sealing joint, improve the 'appearance of the door and the surroundingbody structure by removing from view the unsightly, conventional, outwardly projecting, drip molding,'eliminate the drip molding asa source of noise-resulting from wind resist.- ance'as well as interference vwith the air flow about the door andthe associated body structure and combine the drip molding and door seal into a-single preformed, resilient member which may be easily and economically manufactured and installed. Y l y In .the past it has been common practice to mount the door frame drip molding along certain portions of the joint between the door and the surrounding 'body structure in such a manner that the molding projects outwardly from the body structure and forms a cupped roof over the :sealing joint between the door and the surrounding door jamb. Due to the outwardly projecting position of the cupped, drip molding it has: been the source of noise due to Wind resistance and interference with the air flow about the door. Furthermore, the outwardly projecting molding mars the appearance of the vehicle body due. to the fact that it interrupts the smooth body lines where the body structure Allows into. the door structure. The door jamb constructions herein disclosed are designed to remedy the disadvantages of the outwardly projecting drip molding and to improve door jamb constructions in general.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a door .jarnb construction whereinfthe door seal and drip molding are combined intoa singleelement which isv arranged within the door jamb recess to thereby improve the appearance of the sealing joint prevent noise due towind resistance, eliminate a source of interference with the airflow about the body and door structure and materially reduce the cost of manufacture and installation of the door seal assembly. l

l, It is aV further object of-this invention Ito i provideia recessed door jamb constructionfinlcluding *an combination fdrip -molding and .door

seal wherein the drip molding is. positionedso asto prevent drainage of moisture into thesealing joint between thedoor and the jamb,...the molding being so located that it can not .become a possible source of noise due. to wind resistance or airvow interference.. y

It is an additional objectgof: this'invention to provide a combination door seal and drip molding of. simplied formwhich is economical to manu,- facture and install, highly .efficient in operation, lends itself to improving the. appearance ofthe door assemblyoni which it is mounted, and removes a possible source of noise due toy wind resistance and interference with they air vnow around the door assembly.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a resilient sealing strip formed in such a manner that it also constitutes a drip molding for the sealing joint.

It is a; further object of this invention to provide... a .combination drip .molding door cushioning and Vweathersealing strip which is' adapted to be detachably connected within-:the

door jamb recess.

. -Itis a further object of this invention to provide an eiiicient, inexpensive combination door seal and drip molding that lends itself to low cost production and installation.

Itis a further .object ofV this invention to. provide an improved, simplified, 10W cost, Vcombination sealing strip and drip molding which lends itself to easy, cheap replacement in the event it becomes worn or otherwise impaired...

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from ythe following description of my improved constructions when considered in conjunction with the drawings in whichz Fig. 1 isa side view of an automobile equipped with a combination door cushioning and sealing means constructed 'in accordancewithj my invention g taken along the line 2-'.2 of Fig. 1, indicating y Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational View Y ing wall 25 of the door jamb 23.

yand dripmolding wherem the base portion of the strip includes an integral formation adapted to Vprovide means whereby the seal may be readily as to sealingly engage the side edges of the door.k

The sealing strip I2 is' The vehicle body I4 is formed with a depressed doorV jamb 23 providing a continuous marginal recess I5 adapted to receive the door flangev I3 and the combination dripi'molding and sealing strip I2. The depressed door jamb 23 includes an inwardly extending wall portion 25 from which a substantially vertically extending Wall.; 'j

24 and another inwardly extending wall or ange 26 depend. This recessed door jamb constructionA is preferably designed so that the outside surface of the vehicle body I4 when the door. is' closed. In the past it hasbeen common practice to mount `the conventional drip' molding outside the door jamb recess, above the upwardly facing edges of the door, to prevent drainage of moisture into the sealing joint between the door and the door jamb. Such an arrangement caused the drip molding to project beyond the outside surface ofthe vehicle body and to thus constitute a possible source of noise I due to wind v`resistance and `interference with the air iowaround the ,vehicle body. This invention provides means whereby the drip molding may be mounted within the door jambrecess sothat it prevents` drainage of moisture into'the sealing joint but still does not Vproject beyondthe outside surface of the *vehiclev body soV as to create noise or mar the appearance ofthe vehicle body. v Y 1 The sealing strip I2 will ordinarily be provided around the entire periphery-of the door, the continuity of the strip being indicated by the dashed lines'in Fig. 1.k The strip I2 is preferably of molded or extruded-rubber, or some similar resiltended to be cementedV or otherwise suitably -ofz the door willV be flush with the outside surface .a

anchored to the recessed, depending, substan'- tially vertical wall 25 andto the inwardlyvextend'- The spring clip attaching means 30- 34 shwn in Figs. 2 and 3, and the wall engaged attaching formation 4l shown in Fig. 4, will be subsequently described in detail.' g

The sealing strip I2 (shown in Fig. 2) is formed in cross section so that it provides a base portion I'I from which two legs I3 and I9 divergingly project. A substantially V-shaped channel 2U is iconducts this moisture tothe side edges of the Vdoorwhere it Ycanlfreely drain out'of the' door V- jamb recess.

The Vex'teriorly. exposed 'leg I8' Vof the sealing strip I2 provides a'cantilever-type sealingleg whichV is 'adapted to belbentinto' sealingengagementH ,withv the inside 4facefl of the fdoorrmarginalfviange I3 when thedoor is moved to` closed position.'y Normally 'j the sea-lin'g leg `I8 extends outwardly at an obtusel angle with the Y base portion" I'lk and: when the` door flange I 3.v is

recess I5 then the sealing leg I8 is flexed or bent into sealing engagement with the inside face I'B of the door flange I 3. This tensioning of the sealing leg I8 against the door flange I3 provides a soft door closing action, insures a tight seal regardless of variations in clearance between the door jamb 23 and the door flange I3, and keeps wear ofthe seal to a minimum. "It will be noted that the usual compressive'action of the conventional door seal on door closing action has been Yreplaced with bending stress in the sealing leg I8 which action is considerably less detrimental to the seal and its anchoring means.

The inwardly vdisposed leg I9 of the seal I2 provides a seal anchoring portion which is adaptedv to be 'connected to the wall 24 of the door .lamb Leg I9 includes a slot 2l adapted to receive a flange portion 3| of the spring clip anchor plate 39. Flange 3l is cemented or otherwise suitably mounted within slot 2|. The anchor Aplate V3l?, which is mounted in a depression in theleg 'I9 -of seal IZfincludes openings 32 adaptedto receive spring clip connecting studs 34 or thelike.

Platej also lincludes slotsf33 to increase its flexibility. The vertical wall 24 of the door jamb 23 is formed with a series of, openings aligned with the openings 32 lin the-plate'30 so that the studs 35 can be extended through the aligned openings to thus detachably mount the sealing strip I2 on the wall 24 of door jamb 2%.` The inner, normally unexposed, sides of the leg I9 andv the Vattaching portion Il of base portion I'I of strip I2 mayV also be coated with some form of cement to more permanently connect the sealI2 to the door amb 23. It is obvious that the spring cli-p attaching means'34 provides Van eicient detachable mounting means that permits ready replacement of the combination dripmolding and `sealing strip in the event the strip should become 1I 3'is protected from draining rain, snow, ice; and ythe like.

With the drip molding positionedwithin the door jamb recess as shown, the molding still performs its intended functions but it is so located that it can notv be a, possible 'source of noise or air flow interference, nor will'it mar the smooth outer contour of the surrounding vehicle; body. By' positioning the drip 'molding within the door jamb `recess a cheaper installation is possible for less care need beexercise'd in vinstalling and painting the drip moldingdue to the fact that the molding is substantially hidden from view bythe-door flange 'I3 when the door is -in a closed position.,Y This feature is of'im- `portance when considering the mass'produ'ction of motor vehicles requiring door seals and drip moldings of the type herein described. Furthermore, the sealinglconnection between theY leg andthe door yflange face' I 6 is concealed beneath thev outwardlyv projecting "sealing legl I8 land this protects it' from the elements.' Y k Fig; l .shows 'a'mo'di'ed i form of thelinverrv tionf wherein acombina'tion door'seal anddr'ip .molding a2 is: meunteewithin the door ambre- -cess 55.' :munis form ofmefinvenuonthe seal 132, comprises fa base portion `l3 from whichf leg portions 44' andY 45 divergin'gly projectAs'ublstantially Y Vishapeii rchannel YlII is 'formed between the diverging legs 44 and 45 and this channel-like formation constitutes the gutter portion of the combination drip molding and weather seal'42. Normally the sealing leg portion 44v extends outwardly from the base portion 43,at an obtuse angle. When the door is swung to closed position the inner face I6 of the door marginal flange I3 engages the exterior side of the outwardly projecting sealing leg 44 and bends the leg 44 inwardly so that a substantially airtight seal is developed between the side of cantilever sealing leg 44 and the face I6 of door flange I3.

The vehicle body 53 includes the depressed door jamb 54. Door jamb 54 is dened by the inwardly extending wall 56, the depending, substantially vertically extending, contiguous walls 51 and 58 respectively, and the inwardly extending wall or iiange 59.

Sealing strip 42 is adapted to be mounted on the door jamb54 by means of the finger-like projection 41 formed on the attaching portion 43 of base portion 43 of the seal 42. The depending free end 6I of door jamb wall 51 is adapted to be bent about the projection 41 on the sealing strip 42 so as to fasten the sealing strip to the door jamb. A preformed seat poring portion adapted to be connected to matin portions of the supporting framework. l

2. A combination weather seal and drip molding adapted to be mounted within a frame member recess comprising a'resilient strip formed in cross section to provide a longitudinally extending, substantially V-shaped drainage channel, one leg of the channel formation projecting outwardly in such a manner as to constitute a cantilever-type, sealing member, and an integral attaching portion extending normal` to the other leg of the channel having a finger-like protrusion adjacent the other leg of said channel-formation providing means adapted to be engaged with the frame member on which the strip is to be mounted.

3. A resilient, combination weather sealing and drip molding strip, said strip being formed in cross section to provide a longitudinally extending, drainage channel, one side of thechannel formation including an outwardly projecting portion providing a cantilever-type, sealing member, the other side of said channel formation being adapted to be mounted against a supporting frame member, and a finger-like protrusion extending from said seal adjacent saidother leg of said channel formation protion 62 may |be pressed into the door jamb wall portion 58 to cooperate with the wall portion 6| in securely anchoring the sealing strip 42 to the door jamb 54. It may also be desirable to coat the inner, normally unexposed face of seal leg 45 with some form of cement to securely fasten this leg of the seal to the outer side of door jamb wall 51.

In this second form of the invention the sealing strip 42 is a simple, resilient, element that can be readily formed by the usual molding or extrusion processes.l The door jamb is of standard construction and can be easily stamped in such a. manner as to provide fastening means adapted to cooperate with the linger-like projection 41 on the sealing strip. Accordingly, this form of the invention provides a combination door seal and. drip molding adapted to be mounted within the door jamb recess with a minimum expenditure of time, labor and expense.

While both forms of the invention have been shown with the sealing strip mounted on the door jamb, obviously it is within the scope of this invention to mount the sealing strip on the side edges of the door and have the cantilever sealing portions sealingly engage the wall portions of the door jamb.

I claim: Y v

1. A combination weather sealing andv drip molding strip formed from resilientmaterial comprising a base portion, a pair of vdiverging leg portions projecting from said base portion in such a manner as to provide a longitudinally extending substantially V-shaped drainage channel between said leg portions, one of said leg portions normally -extending at an obtuse angle with said base portion and providing a canti.-

lever-type sealing leg adapted to be bent into sealing engagement with a surface positioned adjacentA the outer face of said sealing leg, the other leg portion being adapted to be mounted on a supporting framework, an integral attaching portion on said base portion extending normal to said other leg portion and an integral linger-like portion projecting from said attachviding means adapted to be positively engaged with preformed portions of the frame member on which the strip is adapted to be mounted.

4. In an automobile body, a door frame member having a jamb portion formed with an inwardly extending wall and a depending substantially vertical Wall, said vertical wall having an ,inwardly extending flange at the free edge thereof providing a pair of right angularly disposed seal supporting surfaces, a combination drip molding and weather sealing strip formed from resilient material and mounted within said recess to extend along the right angularly disposed seal supporting surfaces of said jamb, said strip being formed in cross section to provide a longitudinally extending, outwardly projecting, cantilever-type, sealing leg, a longitudinally extending, substantially V- shaped, drainage channel, and an L-shaped strip attaching leg portion adapted to be mounted on said right angularly disposed surfaces of said door jamb, integrally formed, finger-like projections extending from said strip attaching portion connectible to mating formations on said seal attaching surfaces, and a door member swingably .mounted on said frame member, said door member including a marginal flange portion adapted to be engaged with said sealing leg when said door is swung to closed position.

' ALAN L. HIGBIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

